Page 52 of On Broken Wings

“Hey, Jen.” A voice I hadn’t heard in four years called my name from one of the stools a few people down from where I was standing. My body went ridged. There was no way this was happening. My eyes slowly scanned in the direction I’d heard him and there he was with what looked like two friends. His shoulders were slumped and a beer was sitting between his hands where they were resting on the bar. The same eyes that used to stare into mine in calculus class stared back at me now.

I watched as he stood up and began to make his way toward me. I stepped back, bumping into Evan’s chest as a tear leaked from my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Evan leaned down next me as his hands steadied my shoulders.

“It’s him.” My voice was barely a whisper as I watched Nate move through the crowd until he was standing next to me. He hadn’t changed at all except now he was more muscular.

“It’s good to see you.” He smiled at me and if I didn’t know what a lying jerk he was, I might believe he actually meant that. “How have you been?”

“You’ve got some nerve talking to her!” My brother stepped between Nate and me. “After what you did!” His voice grew louder. I could see the vein in his neck pulsing and his jaw started ticking. I remembered his battered hands when he came back to the hospital after he saved me all those years ago. He’d promised that he’d taken care of things. “I taught your sleazebag brother a lesson and I can teach you one too. Now get the fuck out of here!” He stepped closer and shoved Nate back.

The crowd at the bar had parted slightly as it looked like there were going to be punches thrown. “Mason,” one of the girls behind the bar warned as she rushed away, probably to get Sam or whoever was the manager tonight.

“Easy, bro.” Evan moved me to the side and reached for Mason’s shoulder. “He isn’t worth it.” He glanced at me, but I was rooted in place. Everything that I’d worked so hard to get past was rushing to the surface. Nate looked honestly confused and kept trying to see around Mason to make eye contact with me. “You need to walk away.” Evan stepped closer and warned Nate.

“You need to mind your own fucking business,” Nate sneered.

What was happening here? How did my perfect night turn into this? “I’ve told you once, bro,” Mason growled as he shoved Nate’s chest again, “get the fuck out!”

I watched as it all happened in slow motion. Nate took a swing at Mason and Evan grabbed his arm and pinned him to the bar. I tried to process it all, but it just didn’t make sense. Mason stepped back and stared at Evan in confusion as the bartender came running back from wherever she’d disappeared to. “The cops are on their way,” she warned.

“I got it.” Evan nodded as he kept Nate’s arms pinned behind him. “I’m sorry.” He stared at me with pain in his eyes. “I didn’t want to lie to you.” He pulled something from his pocket and flashed it at the bartender. The gold glittered off the lights from the stage and Evan walked Nate outside, leaving me standing there completely lost.

He was a cop. He lied to me. All the weird things that have happened since we started hanging out finally made sense. He wasn’t different. He was a liar like all the others.

I turned towards my brother as tears began to cascade down my cheeks. “Can you take me home?” I sobbed. He nodded and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. “I don’t want to see him anymore.” I cried. “Tell him I want him to stay away if he comes over.” I buried my face in Mason’s chest so I wouldn’t have to see Evan when we went outside, but I could hear him.

“Jenni, wait!” he yelled. I could hear the slapping of his shoes on the pavement. “Talk to me.”

“You’re a liar,” I screamed as I spun to stare him down. “You’ve lied to me about everything!”

“I was protecting you.” He started to step towards me.

“No! I don’t want anything from you. Stay away from me. You’re just like the others!” I turned and let Mason walk me to his car, leaving Evan standing there on the sidewalk staring at my back.

Chapter 23

Evan

“I just wanted to talk to her,” the guy in the back of the cruiser grumbled.

“Shut up!” I snapped as I maneuvered the car down the street. I was off duty tonight, but this was my collar.

“She with you now, or something?” He chuckled like it was the funniest thing on the planet. “She wasn’t very good from what I remember.” He sighed as he flopped back against the seat. “She’s got a few more curves now though.” He grinned.

“If you don’t shut up, I’m going to go back to the bar and let Mason have a few private minutes with you.” I glared at him through the rearview mirror.

He rolled his eyes as he snapped his mouth shut. Smart guy. It didn’t take long until we were pulling into my station. I parked the cruiser, tossed the keys to the officer I borrowed it from and grabbed the douche bag from the back seat. “Let’s go.” I grabbed his upper arm and walked him into the district. “Thanks, man. I’ll get someone to take me back for my car.” I waved before disappearing inside.

After tossing Nate into the holding cell, I grabbed the paperwork to file my drunk and disorderly. Paperwork was the last thing I wanted to do, but I knew Jenni needed to process what happened. She wasn’t going to talk to me right now and Mason was going to make sure I didn’t get within fifty feet of her. I had no idea what I was going to do to make it better, but I knew arresting Nate was a start.

ooooooooo

Jenni

It didn’t take long to get home. When we reached the apartment door, Mason sighed. “I’ll be fine. I just want to be alone,” I mumbled as I tossed my purse on the couch.

“I’ll be here if you need me. I’m not going anywhere tonight, Jen.” He patted my shoulder and then shuffled into the kitchen. I heard the hiss of a beer can opening as I disappeared into the bathroom.

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